1st Place	2nd Place
3rd Place	Big Bass
Results

As the weekend approached, it became very apparent that the anglers were going against Mother Nature along with the uncooperative bass. The fishing reports were less than thrilling from the previous week. The ones who figured out how to get along with her, with any luck, would come out as winners.

Since it had been over two months from our first event, everyone was anxious to get back on the water. We were to meet at the lake by 6:00 am on Saturday January 17th and most were there early. Earlier that morning it had started to snow and there were reports it was worse out towards Cortez, Co. We had three teams coming from that direction and it was less than ideal conditions for towing a bass boat. Everyone made it without much delay and we started fishing by 7:00 am. By 3:30 pm, the question of who would be the big winner would be answered.
At the weigh-in, it was great to see limits coming to the scales. Though not all were of the quality we have come to expect from Morgan, it seems somebody always finds the secret honey hole. That somebody or team was the visiting team of Jim Bishop and Chuck Lopez from Grand Junction, Co. and they put it on the local teams. With a weight of 20.74lbs for 5 fish and a 5.29lb kicker, it was no contest. They took home $1040 for their trip into the Four Corners area and I would think not their last. The nearest team to them was Russell Crites and Dave Gerhardt with 15.16lbs, more than 5lbs off the pace. They finished 2nd for $520 and had the second largest bass of the day at 6.68lbs. Finishing third with a limit weighing 11.78lbs for 5 fish and Big Bass (6.78lbs) was the team of Barry Stanley and Homer Pirkey. Third place and big bass was worth $470. The forth place team of Dave Perry and Scott Skelton finished just out of the money at 11.34lbs but took home some great option dollars. They were the Lucky Loser winners for being first out the place checks.

I would like to mention the team of Brett Olds and Neil Cotton and their 6th place finish. This was Brett's third event and due to his bad luck from previous tournaments, this was their first event to weigh a fish. Brett had the unfortunate experience of being the recipient of his boat trailer damaged by a hit and run drunk driver. I want to say that he was definitely disappointed and justly so, but he came back and recorded his best finish so far. Great job Brett and hope to see you and Neil in February.

As is the case for most tournaments held on Morgan, it was a variety of baits that accounted for the limits caught. They included all the different plastic baits from Senkos to lizards including tubes and grubs. Rattletraps and spinner baits captured their share as well as crank baits and jerk baits. The techniques were just as varied from reaction presentations to dropshotting with pork jigs and worms holding their own in the catching dept. This is why I like fishing Morgan, you get to use the baits that you have confidence in and that can make the difference in how your day goes.

I would like to thank our sponsors for their support that makes this circuit and the up-coming championship at Clear Lake, Cal. possible. Our national sponsors are BassCat boats, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Mercury Outboards, Motorguide, Lowrance, Bass West magazine, Competitive Edge baits, Solar Bat Sunglasses, and BassMedics. Our local sponsor is KB Dillon's where all our local meetings are held. With their support, our meetings are comfortable and delicious. They are the premier eatery in our area. Please support all of our sponsors when making your next purchase. Without them, we would be just another team circuit.